Away the lads

RUGBY:

But Waterhead bag home start
ALTHOUGH warm, summer days seem a long way off — there was no local rugby league last weekend due to frost and snow — the start of the new season is almost upon us.

Saddleworth Rangers, Oldham St Anne’s and Waterhead are stepping up their preparations for the National Conference League.

The summer campaign — the first at this level — gets under way early next month.

Fans of grass-roots rugby league have plenty to look forward to as they watch the game with the sun on their backs instead of wrapped up against the cold.

The action kick-offs on Saturday, March 3, with Premier Division side Rangers kick-off heading to Ince Rose Bridge.

Oldham St Anne’s will look to get off to the perfect start at York Acorn in Division one.

Waterhead, who boast former Saints player Andy Sands among their ranks, have home advantage in their Division Two opener against Askam.

The second Saturday in March is set aside for round two of the Challenge Cup — all three local sides will be hoping they get that far — before returning to league action seven days later.

Hull Dockers provide Rangers with their first home clash at Shaw Hall Bank Road, while Chris Deakin’s Saints welcome Castleford Panthers to Higginshaw Road.

On same afternoon, Paul Geener and Jon Perks take Waterhead to Dewsbury Celtic.

Saints also have a Friday night match — they visit local rivals Rochdale Mayfield on August 3 — and Rangers have a Sunday fixture on June 3 at Myton Warriors.

The final round of league games are on October 13, with three weekends of play-off action following on, before each divisions Grand final on November 10.

Meanwhile, the preliminary stage of the league’s knock-out competition — the Tier 3 Cup — is on April 28, with the first round proper on May 12.